A pristine, pure Rakiura for future

• Published date: 11 August 2022
• Publication title: Southland Express

A pristine Rakiura. No rats, possums, feral cats or hedgehogs

In their place, our native species thrive, forests and fauna flourish and, with the island’s mauri restored, in Rakiura there is a true taonga for many generations to come.

The Southland Conservation Board is one of many organisations to throw its support behind a partnership between Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research and Predator Free Rakiura.

The four-year project aims to eradicate all major predators and quite simply, we cannot wait for this piece of mahi to get under way and to see just what a predator eradication programme of this size can achieve.

Rakiura has a significant starting advantage in that stoats have never established on the island.

The Board is conscious of the need to manage deer numbers (separate to this mahi) to ensure our native species have the best possible opportunity to flourish, but overall is thrilled to see progress towards predator free Rakiura.

The research which will be undertaken through the partnership will be invaluable and, while it may be unique to Rakiura, it is expected to contribute to other areas that aim to be predator free.

The Bluff Hill Motupohue Environment Trust, for instance, is also leading the way in this area with its successful predator eradication programme, and...